Venetian blind tilt-bar support



Feb. 3, 1948 J. NISENSON VENETIAN BLIND TILT-BAR SUPPORT Filed May 23, 1944 Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED s TATES PATENT .OFiFil-CE TILT-BARSUPYDRT emles Nisenson, :New York, N. Y., assignor' to Publix Metal Produ'ctg, Inm, New Ynrk N. in, '-afcorporation'of -Ne1v York n ililieationlwafle, 1944, see-amt. 536:993

IWCIaims. (Cl- 130 1 77) This invention relates gen rally "to "the Venetion blind art and. more particularly to a *tiltb'ar support therefor. v v p .In accordance with themajority df venetian blind constructio s, the entire blind is "carried 5y 'a head-bar which is intu'rn "supportql "by brackets attached to the wi eew fram for other building opening "with which the blind is 'as'sb- (iiated. The slats, in an elevat'edposition thereof, are "snpporteii by cords which in turnflepenti from puireys usually hidden Withihth head-bar. the slats are "in t e lowered position thereof, they are "carried by slat supporting tapes and 'th'se in "turn are connected "at "the upper ends theredfto"the'tilt bar. It is rorthis i reason that "the tilt-bar needs to be relatively Strong and this'cohditi'on'is increased inith'e ca'se ofjthose hlinds which are relatively wide, that is to Say, longitudinally of "the "tilt ba'r. Where the blind is exceptionally wide, in order to presr ve'th'e shape and arrangement of :the parts,

it would "be necessary to "unduly increase the thickness of the tilt-bar with a consequently unfavorable efieotu on -the total appearance or the blind. In order twprovide additional 'siipport for the tiltbar at "a point or points between the terminals thereof, so eaned center "supports are provided. such "supports mov -my position the "tilt-bar with frespe'c't .to the head-bar. I

Since "in fmanyjblind fcons'tructions it is "desirable that "the tilt-"bar be removable as a unit from the brackets "and. "the 'he'ad bar, it "is desirable that such "'tilt-barbenter supports be liliewise 'dtachablyconnetable. V

"It i'sftherefOreffa'hidiig the .pri'ncipal"bbjectsof the present invention to provide Ventianbli'nd tilt-bar center support construction =v'vhic'h "is quickly and easily "attachedto 'the tiltloar and totheheadbar. I 7

Another object Herein lies in the provision (if structure of the class described, which is quickly and easily detachable 'Such tlta'chabilityfacilifates the removal of the tilt-"bar" fromfthe'heatlliar so thatthe Ionndmayheueaned, adjustecror refurbished 4 Another object heie'in lies in the DI'OViSiGnTdf Venetian blind tilt-"bar "eentersupport construction, which "enables the tilt bar "to be "rotated axially about the "end pins "thereof. ItisHesirable that such rotation mayoeeurwithoutfhind ing or any undue application so that theVer'retian blind may be tilted "in the usual manner Without excessive effort '"loeinfg required.

l mnther objeethereinlies inthe'provisionnf a irenetian mind "tilt ear "center supporting tievice, "which "is of simple construction, largely rhetal'stainrimgs f'sothatthe same may betm'anlifacturefi Iargescale production at low cost and have a consequent wide sale and use.

These fobjeets anti other incidental ends and partswill more fully appear in the progress of this "cliselosure and "be pointed out in the appem'i'ed claims.

In the drawings in "which similar referthroughout the several views:

Figure f1 *isafragmentary frontlrevisional view partly in sectionshowing a first embodiment or theiiiveiition. I

Figure '2 is an enlarged vertical seetional view as :jseen from fthefplan'e "2- 2 on Figure 1.

Figure '3 *is :a horizontal sectional view seen from "the plane 1- 3 on Figure 2.

Figure "4 is "a View 7 in perspective of the tiltbar center, support as removed from the "heaH- barbraokettherefor.

Figure "5 is ayiew in perspective showing a second enibodiment "of the "invention.

In aceordance with "the invention "the device enee characters designate "corresponding parts generally inflieatetl byrference character|0,"is assoeiate'dwith'a head-bar II and atilt barfz.

Thehead bar {"II may he er the usual construe-v tion having ftilt bar -tend support "brackets 13, only one ofwhichis'showniinthe drawing. The tii't bar 12 may "alsobe of "standard construction and may be provided with end pins I 4 (only one of which is "'shOWfi) Which are adapted-L be rotatably journalleiiinthebrackets I 3. 'Anydesired. number of slats I5 .(only one of whichns shown) may becarrie'dby the tilt-bar Iv2,'by"theslatfsupportin'g tapes 16 (only one shown) While thefleviee *l fl is referred'to in the specificati on and tlaimsas atilt-bar center support, itwill'be'und'ersfiooiiithatthe word center i's' usedpnly loosely *as it is in the trade, and "that the support ".I u may be "located at any point or points de'sired betweenthe actual ends corresponding :to the "end I1 of the tilt bar I 2.

i The device "f0 includes two separable 7 parts 5a heaid barfelemefit I 8 and 'aitilt-bar element l9. 7

'I'he head-bar element I 8 is preferablyiformed ofa "rectangulari'plate and includes aicentral .tiltba'r "element engaging :portion and aipair of opposifiely disposed attaching "flanges (2| and T22). The element I'B, as best seen in'Figures 1. and2, hasthe centraTtilt-bar element engaging portion"20 "disposed at anlevelibelow that of the flanges?! rand "22, sothat the upper surface '23 maybespacediiromlthe undersurface 24 of the tilt ba'r l2, '9, distance substantially "equalto or greater than the efiective thickness of the laterally extending projections 25 and 26. The portion is provided with an indentation or open ended slot 21, which extends inwardly from the forward edge 28 of the element I8. The width of the portion 26 (longitudinally of the element I8) is preferably equal to or slightly greater than the greatest distance betweenthe terminals of the projections and 26. The flanges 2! and 22 are preferably provided with orifices which ma be penetrated by screws 29 and which serve to secure the element I8 to the undersurface 3 I of the head-bar I I.

The tilt-bar element I9 is best seenin Figure The plate 32 is preferably rectangular in shape 4 seated thereabove and the body portion of the member 53 may contact the inner end of the slot 2'] or substantially contact the same. In this position a portion of the weight of the tilt-bar is carried by the plate 32 through the U-shaped member 42, the axle 52, the member 53, the projections 25 and 26, the element i8 and the screws 29 and to thehead-bar II. The tilt-bar I2 may freely rotate about the pins I4 and the axle 52, being limited only by the abutment of the edges 55 and 56 against the lowermost surfaces V of the routed grooves 57, 58.

By virtue of the fact that the slot 2! opens forwardly, that is to say, toward the front surface 59 of the head-bar II, the tilt-bar together and has at the side edges 33 and 34 upstanding tilt-bar penetrating prongs 35-38, The prongs 35 and 31 and the prongs 36 and 38 are oppositely disposed in such manner that their angularly disposed edges 45, 46, 41 and 48 incline toward each other asshown on the drawing. Th col-action of said angularly disposed edges -43, inclusive, is such that when the plate 32 is driven against the undersurface 39 of, the tilt-bar I2, said platewill be prevented from shifting laterally out of the position it 0ccupied when the tips or points of the prongs 35-38 were placed against the undersurface of the tilt-bar. The central portion of the plate 32 is provided with a pair of spaced and parallel slots 49 and M which are upwardly penetrated by a U-shaped trunnioning member 42, The cross piece 43 of the member 42 carries upon the upper surface thereof, the undersurface 44 of the plate 32. The upper ends of the arms 49 and 50 of the member 42 are provided with co-axially arranged orifices within which the axle 52 is trunnioned. The axle 52 is provided at the terminals thereof with suitable enlargements and may in fact take the form of a commercially available and well known elongated rivet.

The tilt-bar element I9 also includes a sus pension member 53,- The: member 53 may be blanked from a single piece of strip stock and at the upper end thereof may be slit to provide the. material from which the two projections 25 and 26 maybe formed by bending them each through 90 in opposite directions so that they are parallel with each other and perpendicular to the body of the suspension member 53. The suspension member 53 at the lower end thereof is provided with an orifice penetrated by the axis 52.

In use the tilt-bar I2 is provided with an orifice 54 of a size sufficient to permit the insertion therein of the arms 49 and 50 of the U-shaped trunnioning member 42, and the suspension member 53, as well as the'arms 49 and 59 are passed upwardly through the orifice 54 and the tilt-bar element I9 is secured in place by forcing the plate 32 against the undersurface 39 until the prongs 3548, inclusive, are fully seated. Obviously, as has been mentioned above, the orifice 54 may be located at any desired point along the tilt-bar I2, but is preferably so loinclusive.

.both fromthe element I8 and the brackets I3 by a forward sliding motion. Suitable locking devices, well known in the art and not shown in the drawings, may be used to prevent the undesiredor accidental displacement of the pin I4 from the brackets I3,

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 0f the accompanying drawings, for the purpose of avoiding needless repetitiom'parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are given the same reference characters with the prefix 1.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment principally in the arrangement of the head-bar elements I I8 being so disposed that its greatest length lies transversely of the headbar I I I, This produces the effect of having the opening of the. slot 521' disposed in such manner that the projections I25 and I26 make it necessary to insert the suspension element I53 by a movement longitudinally of the head-bar III. The projections I 25 and i26 may be fabricated so that they form a T-shape end on the suspension member I53. The projections I 25 and I 26 may lie in the same plane as the suspension member I53 or they may be rotated through 90 so that the flats of the wider portions thereof may:

lie upon the upper surface of the central tilt-bar element engaging portion I29.

It may thus be seen that I have provided a novel and useful Venetian blind tilt-bar support which is of simple and foolproof construction and which may be installed with a minimum of skill and effort. After installation it provides proper support for the tilt-bar while providing for propcated that the axle 52 will be in co-axial alignposed, the projections 25 and 26 may be fully er rotation of the tilt-bar. By virtue of the fact that the Ushaped member 43 may be loosely disposed in oversized slots 40 and 4!, said slots being, closed at both ends and therefore elongated orifices, if the plate 32 or head-bar element I8 are improperly positioned within limited values of disalignment, with a certain amount of looseness in the parts, they may articulate slightly to accommodate such disalignment and yet provide satisfactory operation. Thus, since the suspension member 53 is rotatable about one axis and the U-shaped member 42 is shiftable about an axis disposed substantially perpendicularly thereto but in a parallel plane, the parts may shift to accommodate disalignment of a limited degree.

I 'wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar and a tilt-bar, said support comprising: a head-bar element adapted to be secured to said head-bar and having a slot, said ele ment being spaced from the head-bar at and along said slot; a tilt-bar element adapted to be secured to said tilt-bar and including a tilt-bar supporting plate and a suspension member pivotally associated with said plate; said suspension member being adapted to penetrate said slot, said suspension member at the upper end thereof having an enlargement greater in effective Width than the width of said slot, whereby said suspension member is insertable Within said slot longitudinally of the slot, but is prevented from being pulled vertically downward through the slot by said enlargement.

2. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar and a tilt-bar, said support comprising: a head-bar element adapted to be secured to said head-bar; a tilt-bar element adapted to be secured to said tilt-bar and including a tilt-bar supporting plate, a U -shaped member secured to said tilt-bar supporting plate and a suspension member pivotally associated with said U-shaped member; and means to detachably connect said suspension member to said head-bar element.

3. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar and a tilt-bar, said support comprising: a tilt-bar element adapted to be secured to said tilt-bar and including a tilt-bar supporting plate, a U-shaped member secured to said tilt-bar supporting plate and extending into said tilt-bar and a suspension member pivotally associated with said U-shaped member; and means to detachably connect said suspension member to said head-bar element.

4. In a Venetian blind construction, including a, tilt-bar and a head-bar, means to suspend the tilt-bar from the head-bar, comprising a headbar element in the form of a first plate having a depression with an open ended slot therein; a tilt-bar element having a second plate connected to the undersurface of the tilt-bar; said tilt-bar element including a member penetrating the second plate and a suspension member pivotally connected to the penetrating member; said suspension member being insertable within said slot and having an enlargement on the end thereof adapted to lie within the said depression in the first plate when the suspension memberis engaged Within the said slot.

5. In a Venetian blind construction, including a tilt-bar and a head-bar, means to suspend the tilt-bar from the head-bar, comprising a headbar element in the form of a first plate having a depression with an open ended slot therein; a tilt-bar element having a second plate connected to the undersurface of the tilt-bar; said tilt-bar element including a suspension member penetrating the tilt-bar and pivotally connected to the second plate; said suspension member being insertable within said slot and having an enlargement on the end thereof adapted to lie within the said depression in the first plate when the sillspension member is engaged within the said s at.

6. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar and a tilt-bar, said support comprising: a head-bar element adapted to be secured to said head-bar; a unitary tilt-bar element adapted to be secured to said tilt-bar and including a tilt-bar supporting plate having a pair of integral prongs each having an angularly disposed edge, said prongs being adapted to penetrate said tilt-bar, and a suspension member pivotally connected to said plate, said angularly disposed edges being oppositely arranged and inclined toward each other in a direction away from the tilt-bar supporting plate; and means to detachably connect said suspension member to said head-bar element.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the enlargement on the free end of the suspension member is T-shaped.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the enlargement on the free end of the suspension member is formed by said free end being bifurcated with the two projections oppositely bent through substantially 90.

9. Venetian blind construction comprising: a headbar; a tilt-bar having an orifice therein; a head-bar element secured to the head-bar; a tilt- :bar element including a tilt-bar supporting plate and a suspension member pivotally connected to said plate and penetrating said orifice; and means to detachably connect said suspension member to said head-bar element. v

10. Venetian blind construction comprising: a head-bar; an elongated continuous tilt-bar with top and bottom walls, said tilt-bar having an orifice extending between said top and bottom walls and a pair of slots extending laterally outward, transversely of the tilt-bar, from said orifice, said slots being in the top wall and having their lowermost portions spaced a substantial distance above the bottom wall; a head-bar element secured to the head-bar; a tilt-bar element including a tilt-bar supporting plate and a suspension 7 member pivotally connected to said plate and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,793,943 Leeper Feb. 24, 1931 2,038,776 Wiener Apr. 28, 1936 

